EDF 600 Within my own classroom for the last couple of years I have been using a course management

system called CourseSites to create a blended learning environment. I would like to conduct a research project where I can study the effects of a course management system on my computer application student achievement. I believe that students within my computer applications course who use the course management system CourseSites will have a higher level of achievement than that of their peers not using CourseSites. For this study I would need to use a quasi-experimental study because the courses of students are already chosen, but not necessarily at random. Within my school there may be a total of 4 to 5 courses taught in Computer Applications, but students are not merely chosen at random. The course is typically made up of 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who typically register to be in that course. There being a low number of courses and students to choose from, all students would be used as either the experimental or control group. The focus for the review of literature would be toward finding relationship between achievement and the online/blended learning environment model. The research that I would be conducting would have a focus on areas where a blended learning model exists. Most blended or solely online courses use some form of course management system to assist in this effort. Therefore my focus in my review of the literature would be within the areas of online and blended learning models because of their use of course management systems.

I would collect data on pre/post tests using a certified test within the Computer Applications realm. This test comes is the Internet and Computing Core Certification test given by a company called Certiport. These tests can be completed within a normal computer lab setting where a teacher can be a proctor. The test is broken up into 3 separate sections, so pre/post tests would occur before and after each section has been taught. Reports are given showing students scores on the tests as well as a breakdown within various categories that are tested over. Comparisons of these test scores will be completed for the experimental and control group. There are a few problems that may arise with my research. Most problems have to do with students access to technologies outside the realm of the learning environment. This studying being one where a course management system will be used in a blended learning environment, some students may not have the same access as others to technology outside the school setting. Another problem that may occur is the students use of the course management system. No student can be forced to use a certain type of technology if they choose not to, but the software will be made available and used regularly within the school environment. Outside use can be monitored through tracking by the course management system, however limited availability outside school environment could be the cause of lack of use.